Combined curb, gutter, and vehicle-track for highways.



PATENTED DHL-5, 1905.

JigowBN. v COMBTNED CURB, GUTTER, AND VEHICLE TRACK P0P. HIGHWAYS.

ATPLIOATION. FILED FEB. 27,'1`9o5.

PATENTED; DEG. 5. 1905.

No. 8o6,563. E

\ J. OWEN. COMBINED GUEB, GUTTER, AND VEHICLE TRACK EOE EIGEWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 27,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

To all whom w/tay concern,.-

' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

JOHN OWEN,A on PITrsBURcf.A PENNs'YLvANIA. vGowns-.INED OURBQGUTTER, AND VEHICLE- TRAQQ'KQFOR HlGHwAYs.

n Specification of Letters Patent.

' ratenteanee. 5, 1905.

Application filed February 27, 19.05` Serial No. 247,532.

-I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

vsuchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains -to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain improvements in highways; and it consists in providing tracks for the wheels of wagons or other vehicles, comprising a metallic wheelplate and a metallic gutter, which may be provided with a iiange constituting a metallic curb, said wheel-plate and metallic gutter being spaced apart a distance equal to the normal gage of wagons and the like, whereby the said gutter mayserveboth as a channelv drawings, in which Figure 1`is a sectional perspective view of a portion of a street in which my invention is embodied. Fig; 2 is a similar view illustrating more` in detail the element which constitutes a combined metallic gutter, curb, and

one member ,of a vehicle-track. Fig. 3 is a perspectlve view of said element, shown detached and looking at the under side thereof. 1

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slight modification. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the wheel-plate, which constitutes the other member of the vehicle-track. l Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the invention as it is embodied at a corner or curve.

Referrlng` to the drawlngs, 1 deslgnates the gutter, and 2 the wheel-plate spaced from the gutter a distance equal to the normal width or gage ofwagons or similar vehicles, both substantially flush with the surface of the street and both together forming vehicletracks at the sides of the street andileaving the middle portion of the street for car-tracks 3 orv to serve as a roadway for light equipages, as may be desired.

rlhe gutter 1 is preferably constructed of metal and is of inverted-troughshape, witha substantially flat. surface 4, that serves both as a `channel to carry off water and refuse and as a tread-surface for vehicle-wheels, and with vertical sides, which constitute supportingfeet, between which is filled in a backing 5 of cement to add strength to the structure and to give it a stable foundation. One side, 6, of the gutter is iiuted in such manner that it provides a series of regularly-spaced recesses 7, the walls of which are at right angles to each other, said recesses being designed to receive the material with which the street is paved, such as the sheet-asphalt 8 or thevpaving-blocks 9, whereby to form a Hrm joint therewith in the nature of a mortise-and-tenon joint, and each recess preferably corresponding in width to a' street-paving block. The other side of the gutter is preferably provided with an upwardly-extending iiange 10, designed to form a metallic curbing for the sidewalk 11. 4As shown in Fig. 4, the flange 10 `may be dispensed with where the curbing as already constructed is of metal or where another or separate curbing is desired. As

`shown in Fig. 6, themetallic gutters 1L for 4the curves or corners of the Astreet may disof the plate and intersecting each other, the

not only effect a saving in cost by utilizing the same element for several purposes, but also provide means which will divert considerable traffic, especially that of a heavy character, from the middle'of the highway and from the car-tracks toward the curb, which is 'a desideratum in the regulation of traffic, and

is generally recognized as one of the main factors in solving the problems attending such regulation, especially in crowded city streets where there is considerable travel of merchandise-trucks and other similar heavy and slowmoving vehicles.

I claim as my invention- Vl. In a highway, a gutter located atthe side thereof contiguous to the sidewalk and a wheelplate the two spaced apart a distance corresponding to the normal gage of wagons or similar vehicles and constituting a track for the same. 4

2. In a highway, a metallic gutter embedded at the side thereof contiguous to the sidewalk and a metallic wheelplate also embedded therein the two substantially ush with the surface of the highway and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the normal gage of wagons or similar vehicles and constituting a track for the same.

3. A wheel-plate for a vehicle-track for highways` of substantially inverted-trough shape and provided with Huted sides, for the purpose set forth.

4. A wheel-plate for a vehicle-track i' or highways, of substantially inverted-trough shape and having fluted sides providing rectangular recesses, for the purpose set forth.

5. Ametallic gutter for highways, provided with a ange constituting a metallic curb.

6. A metallic gutter for highways, of substantially inverted-trough shape and provided with a fiuted side, for the purpose set forth.

7. In ahighway, a metallic gutter at the side thereof contiguous to the sid ewalk, of substantially inverted-trough shape with a fiat upper face designed to constitute a tread-surface for vehicle-wheels.

8. A metallic gutter for highways, of substantially inverted-trough shape, one of its sides being iiuted, for the purpose set forth.

9. A combined metallic gutter and curb for highways, consisting of an inverted-troughshape body one side of which is iluted and at the other side of which is an upwardly-extending flange constituting thc curb.

lO. In a highway, a metallic gutter ofsuhstantially inverted-trou gh shape with a smooth lat upper surface designed to constitute one member of a vehicle-track, and a wheel-plate also of in verted-trough shape spaced from said gutter a distance corresponding to the normal gage of wagons or similar vehicles and provided with a grooved upper surface constituting the other member of said track.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GIVEN.

INTitnesses:

RICHARD F. GRIFFITHS, Gmo. L. MCCLEARY. 

